The first successful treatment of a genetic disorder by gene therapy was the curing of a 4-year-old girl who had severe combined immunodeficiency disease. Because the engineered cells do not live forever, this child must supplement her treatment with regular doses of

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The genetic disorder mentioned in the passage is severe combined immunodeficiency disease, which is caused by a deficiency in the enzyme adenosine deaminase. The first successful gene therapy involved the insertion of a functional copy of the adenosine deaminase gene into the patient's cells. Therefore, the child must supplement her treatment with regular doses of adenosine deaminase.

The First Successful Treatment of a Genetic Disorder by Gene